01/29/13 01/29/13 [captioning made possible by democracy now!] >> from pacifica, this is "democracy now!" >> "the gatekeepers." in an explosive tuchman your film, is your secret service

openly criticize the israeli occupation of the west bank and gaza. then a teacher uprising in seattle. >> [indiscernible] this movement to replace the map with something and accurately measures. >> earlier this month, teachers at garfield high in seattle unanimously voted to stop administering a widely used standardized tests. now the seattle school district is warning teachers could face a 10-day suspensions without pay if they refuse to give the test. we will go to seattle for the latest. all of that and more coming up. this is "democracy now!," democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman. president of and is expected to express his support for a sweeping blueprint for

immigration reform backed by a bipartisan group of senators. the senate plan includes a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented people in the u.s., but also demands tougher border enforcement and a system for tracking those who overstay visas. some have condemned the plan's exclusion of lgbt couples from the right to sponsor a foreign- born partner so they can obtain residency. democratic senator chuck schumer of new york and arizona is republican senator john mccain announced this in a proposal on monday. >> we still have a long way to go, but this bipartisan blueprint is a major breakthrough. it is our hope that these principles can be turned into legislation by march and have a marked up by chairman leahy's committee with the goal of passage of the senate by late spring or summer. >> we have been too content for too long to allow individuals to

know our lawn, serving our food, clean our homes, and even watch our children while not affording them any of the benefits that make our country so great. i think everyone agrees that it is not beneficial for our country to have these people here hidden in the shadows. >> president obama will outline his ideas for immigration reform today during a speech in las vegas. while obama is said to differ on several issues, administration officials said today's speech will focus instead on rallying public support for reform. on monday, immigrants in their advocates in new york city described the devastating impact of current u.s. immigration policies and announced a nationwide mobilization in support of immigration reform. speaking at judson memorial church, david chong talked about his family. >> though we are one family, my brother is a u.s. citizen. my parents and i are undocumented.

each day we live with the fear that one of us could be taken away at any time. luckily, i have been granted deferred action and the authorization to work legally in the u.s., however, this is only a temporary reprieve of two years. i hope is to state the other as a family without fear and worry and that is for president obama and congress to act and pass comprehensive immigration reform for 2013. >> president obama continues to publicly lobby congress for passage of his bid to reform the nation's gun laws. on monday, obama and vice president biden hosted the police chiefs of three communities that have seen mass shootings in the past year -- oak creek, wisconsin. r rock, colorado. most recently, newtown, connecticut. >> the only way we can do everything that needs to be done is with cooperation of congress. that means passing serious laws that restrict the access and availability of assault weapons

and magazine clips that are not necessary for hunters and sportsmen and those who are responsible gun owners. law enforcement officials do this every single day, and if they can come to some basic consensus in terms of steps we need to take, congress is going to be paying attention to them. >> u.s. military is reportedly preparing a new base in northwest africa from which to fly its fleet of drones. according to the new york times, the initial plan is to use the drone base for surveillance flights targeting islamist militants, but that could turn into missile strikes later on. if approved, the base would likely be built in niger. it borders mali where the u.s. is currently aiding a french-led military operation in the country's north. on monday, french and malian troops retook control of the key malian historical site of timbuktu from islamist fighters. the fleeing militants set several buildings on fire, including a library holding

priceless historical manuscripts. taureg fighters in northern mali say they have taken control of the city of kidal and seven other towns from the islamist rebels. egypt's army chief is warning ongoing political turmoil amid mass protests against president mohammed morsi could cause the egyptian state to collapse. in general issued the warning tuesday after residents in towns of the suez canal openly defied a curfew imposed on the morsi government, flocking to the streets to call for the exit of morsi as military troops watched on. at least two men died in clashes in port assayed, adding to dozens of others killed in recent days. protests erupted outside the second anniversary of the egyptian revolution that ousted president mubarak. in port said, the unrest was killed by death sentences handed down saturday for 21 city residents accused of playing key

role in a deadly soccer riot last year. the united nations to be forced to scale back food aid due to lack of international funding. on monday, the director of the in humanitarian operation said relief workers have already cut the nutritional count the food rations and half in the past two months. speaking after a trip to syria, he warned the country is seeing widespread devastation. but it is really shocking the scale of the devastation and the cost and amount of time it will take to recover already, not to speak of course about the fact this is going on in an unrelenting way. the days of living conditions for people not in syria across the board are just quite appalling. what strikes you most is when you go to the hospitals and you see how sick people are having

to cope in medical facilities that are just so seriously under resort. >> an internal document reveals the obama administration is shuttering the office of the special envoy in charge of closing guantanamo. the special envoy is being reassigned and will not be replaced according to a report in the new york times. president obama about four years ago to close guantanamo, the latest move indicates he is continuing to table that promise. a government report any losses from the treasury department approved huge paydays for executives at bailed out corporations despite rules limiting their compensation while on the taxpayer dole. the special inspector general for the troubled as a relief program, or tar, says the treasury granted all 18 requests it received last year to hike pay for executives at american international group, aig, general motors and ally financial. 14 of those requests were for at

least $100,000 while the largest was for $1 million. the three firms collectively received some $250 billion in government bailouts. the special inspector general for tart said -- a large section of the mississippi river has been closed off after the crash of a barge set off a major oil spill. the barge was carrying 80,000 gallons of crude when it crashed into a road bridge in the mississippi town of vicksburg. the spill has forced the delays of some 300 barges trying to pass through the mississippi, a vital waterway for u.s. goods. in brazil, four people of been detained for questioning in connection with the massive fire that killed over 231 people at a nightclub in santa maria. the blaze was set off by the pyrotechnics of a band performing on stage. the death toll was likely higher because the club only had one

exit. the venue's owners and to members of the band are in custody. thousands of mourners gathered at a vigil for the fire victims monday night. >> i believe it is not just me but everyone in this world who has a heart has been affected by this fire. anyone his family, who has a friend are removed. i have nothing else say. >> in other news from brazil, a leader of the country's landless peasant movement has been killed in a targeted shooting. cicero guedes was shot dead in rio de janeiro state while bicycling to his home. he was killed not far from a sugar plant that he had helped occupy along with other landless workers this past november. his murder is the latest in a spate of killings of brazilian land rights activists in recent years. in a statement, the group christian aid said --

computer hackers with the cyber activist group anonymous say they'd have infiltrated the justice department's website in retaliation for the prosecution of aaron swartz. the internet freedom advocate who took his own life earlier this month. aaron swartz was weeks before a trial date for downloading millions of articles provided by the nonprofit research service jstor and facing 35 years in prison. on saturday, anonymous said it had breached the justice department's firewall and planned to release government data in response to its treatment of aaron swartz. those are some of the headlines. this is "democracy now!," democracynow.org, the war and h aaromaté.t. >> welcome to all our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. for our first segment we turn to israel and the occupied territories where israeli forces have begun the year with a spate

of killings of unarmed palestinian civilians. so far this month five unarmed civilians have been shot dead by israeli troops. the latest in a was a 21-year- old palestinian woman who was killed when israeli forces opened fire at a west bank school. the witness said she was standing with a group of companions when they came under fire. >> two israeli soldiers traveling in a white car pointed their weapons, shooting indiscriminately at a college where the women were standing at the entrance. there was another man inside. they shot repeople and a large number of soldiers arrived. >> on monday, the israeli human- rights group that some put out a report saying israeli forces had been extensively and systematically violating their own rules of engagement when suppressing protests in the west bank. according to jesselyn, since 2005, at least 48 palestinians

have been killed by live ammunition fired at people throwing stones. six more were killed by rubber coated bullets fired at dangerously close range, and two were killed by tear-gas canisters to rectify the protesters. this is a but some spokesperson. >> this report exposes the full list weapons used by the israeli security forces in the west bank regarding palestinian demonstrations. stun grenades,-- weapons that are meant to be non-lethal if used properly and according to regulations were providing the military regulations that restrict the use of these different elements and we show how these regulations are often vary widely flouted by soldiers. >> that was the israeli human rights group b'tselem.

we turn to an explosive documentary film of these really occupation of palestinians in the west bank and gaza. one subject of the film says -- a different subject says -- words ofare not the israel the peace activists or even of soldiers who have refused to serve in the occupied territories. they are the words of the former heads of the shin bet, israel's secret service and the agency responsible for the country's internal security. in "the gatekeepers" by israeli filmmaker dror moreh, the six former shin bet chiefs are brought together to speak out for the first time ever. in separate interviews they detail their methods against palestinian militants and civilians in the occupied territories, including targeted

killings, torture, recruiting informants, and suppression of mass protests during the two intifadas. but in doing so they also criticize the occupation they were assigned with defending and warned successive israeli governments have endanger their country's future by refusing to make peace. in this clip, yuval diskin, who headed the shin bet from 2005 to 2011, shares the doubts he's carried with him about the targeted killings of palestinian militants.

>> that was yuval diskin, one of former six shin bet chief interviewed in "the gatekeepers ." joining a list of nominees that also includes another film about the israeli occupation, "five broken cameras", "the gatekeepers" is release unlimited theaters published in a limited theaters on friday. we dror moreh welcome you. you have interviewed all six surviving former shin bet head, equivalent to the heads of the fbi. >> the combination of fbi and cia. >> added to pull this off? why did they talk to you? >> i think they were ready. timing is the most important thing. i think when i came to them with the idea of doing the movie, they felt it was long due needed

and had to speak because they're worried about the state of israel, worried about where israel is headed if they continue to maintain this occupation. for them it was a kind of non- issue to come and speak in the movie. >> in this clip, former shin bet chief avi dichter discusses an israeli bombing of a home in gaza in july 22 -- 2002. the attack killed salah shehadeh and 14 innocent civilians, including his wife and daughter and a family of seven living next door. dozens were also wounded. the attack occurred just as salah shehadeh was reportedly preparing to sign on to a ceasefire halting attacks on israelis not in the occupied territories. hear, dror moreh, the director, confronts him about the civilian deaths.

>> former shin bet chief. talk about his response. >> i have to say i feel a little uncomfortable in the way you present the things here because you betray the things that the israelis are brittle, aggressive all the time with the palestinians are like doves. there is a reason why shin bet is there. the fact of the matter is, you cannot say in a way to treat israel as aggressive and the palestinians are innocent bystanders always been killed. it is not the case at all. this is misleading. ithink there's something field while the in this film, it is the whole situation is different shades of gray. there is no total aggressive person there or aggressive entity towards a very innocent and not a violent entity and the

other side -- it is both doing the worst they can. i think i can relate to what was said once from our foreign former minister said the palestinians have never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. i can say that on both sides. neither side has missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. that is all whole role of the gatekeepers. they have basically said, enough. it is not doing anywhere but it is only tactic without strategy. to show that in a way that only benefits both sides. if you portray only one side as the brittle, aggressive force in the other as the innocent, you are doing wrong to the truth on the ground. i have to say this is something which my movie tried to do very, very strongly to betray the situation as it is. the palestinians are doing terrorist attacks.

that are right to do something they want to create their own country, their own homeland, and they oppose the aggressive occupation. >> we certainly are not here to debate the history with you, but we are trying to betray your film and it has powerful statements that should be highlighted. "we become a preoccupation force similar to the germans in world war ii. we up become cruel to ourselves as well, the man to the occupied occupation using the excuse of the war against terrorists." that is in your movie. it is very powerful. >> i am not saying it is not in the move may -- movie. what i felt was when you portray that as the palestinians are people that are sitting there and not doing anything, it is not the reality on the ground. by that you have to show both sides. i think we knew do that, you

portray only one side. i said that before. you have to be balanced. this is something i do not see some much here. >> could you respond to both of these points? one, this powerful statement that shalom says, the former head, comparing themselves to the nazis? >> look, i have to say the sentence that shalom said, when i was doing the interview, it felt like a physical blow to my stomach when he said back. i have to say shalom, when you see the film, you know what happened when you order the execution of two terrorists captured alive. >> we will talk about that after the break. you're talking about the executioner that blew up the bus. >> no, there were tried to kidnap people on the bus. he ordered them to be executed without a trial.

look, i think the occupation is bad for israel and i think those people who came to speak in the movie from shin bet came because they feel the occupation of the palestinian and the last 45 years is something that is not good for the state of israel and should be stopped. i think when shalom spoke about what you just mentioned, he spoke about the ramification of the occupation on the israeli population, about what is becoming inside internally of the people. i totally agree. but the way, shalom was a young kid in vienna in the 1930's. did not know he was a jew. he was forced to go to school after a christian not see was almost beat to death by his classmates. he felt firsthand what it felt like to be a jew under a racist regime. he compares the is reoccupation to the germans. that is how the germans treated

the polls, the check, the dutch. he is worried -- something resonated in may as well, where will the occupation continue? >> and avi dichter's point talking about killing the hamas leader that is going for a cease-fire. >> this happens in america as well in that clip he said the americans have drone attacks in afghanistan, killed seven people and a wedding which nobody knows if the suspect person was killed as well. in the war of the 21st century, it is a war we need intelligence to get to a needle in a haystack, that means in the form of the terrorist that you're looking for him. intelligence people want to get into that specific person at a certain date and time and place. this is a very difficult war to maintain. america is doing it now. you just heard in your news they're going to do drones over

north africa and civilians. i think you have to think strategically where you want to lead with this conflict. >> we will continue this discussion with dror moreh, is really filmmaker, director of the oscar documented documentary, "the gatekeepers." we will be back in a minute. ♪ [music break]

>> this is "democracy now!," democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman with aaron maté. >> we are talking about the hijacking of the 300 bus. let's go to a clip it killing of two palestinian hijackers of an israeli bus 1984, brutally beaten to death by israeli forces after they were captured. abraham shalom who ordered the killing or ordered the pair's killing in person, is among those interviewed. he was later forced to resign over the incident.

>> the killed a terrorist whose hands were tied

>> that was the former chávez director who was forced to resign over this the-former shin bet director who was forced to resign. we're talking about "the gatekeepers." dror moreh, if you could talk about this incident? >> it basically shook the corridor of power in israel. the first time the shin bet has come to the cameras in light. before that, knowing that shin bet existed, only a few people around israel. basically, the shin bet could do whatever he wanted and that resulted in that horrible incident where the head of sinn

but ordered the killing of two counterterrorists. the main issue here for me was the fact the politicians who gave the permission or not convicted. -- were not convicted. field paye in the price pai the price. the prime minister fought in every way they could in order to prevent the incident from going to court. at the end of the day, shalom got clemency from the president before he was even convicted or tried. that is very rare. they knew if it went to trial, it would bring to light the highest levels in israel. shalom said he would say in court, he gave me permission to do that, which is horrible. >> in this clip, the shin bet

security chiefs discuss how the also confronted israeli militants. in this case, the extremist right wing group the jewish underground. the plan to look the islamic holy site, the dome of the rock in jerusalem.

>> that clip from "the gatekeepers." dror moreh, the plot to blow up the dome of the rock? >> i think people should go to the movie. the far right extremism in

israel as the biggest danger to anything that moves toward peace. the religious fanatics are willing to sacrifice everything in the name of god, in the name of their beliefs. this is one of the most horrible incidents in israel's history, the fact people were willing to blow up the dome of the rock in order to stop -- the peace process, by the way, that was their aim. the printed that israel would not withdraw from sanaa and have peace with israel. the head of the shin bet said to me in 2005 prior to this engagement plan which approve the settlements in gaza, the extreme right-wing fanatics and israel were willing to blow up the dome of the rocked in a threat over the dome was much more extensive during the time of the jewish underground and another plan was to assassinate the prime minister sure rod.

they know of something moved towards peace, there something that can prevent that from happening, either they assassinate the prime minister or blow up one of the holy places. >> on the issue of fanatics, i want to ask about the recent elections of the israeli prime minister benjamin nyad -- netanyahu will have to include some pretty far right groups in his plan. what is your reaction to the plan? >> i think the elections show they're much more smarter than the leaders. the what i looked at it, netanyahu wanted to move toward the extreme right but these really public said to him clearly, "you cannot do that." -- these republics said to him clearly, they said, "your the only

candidate in israel. no one opposes you, but you cannot do that with the far extreme right, you have to go to the center." he seems to be negotiating with the center parties and i hope this is what happens. i do not have any trust in netanyahu. for me, it is something that he is the most dangerous person in terms of peace and israel. but i think the israelis of sentiment clear message. >> speaking on "democracy now!" in 2006, former israeli foreign minister shlomo enemy said the former prime minister, the man who was assassinated, never expected that oslo would result in the creation of a palestinian state. >> reached an agreement that did not even mention the right of self [indiscernible] doesn't even mention putting an end to settlement. if israel is after oslo

continued expansion of settlements, they were violating the spirit of oslo, not the laughter of oslo. nothing in the agreement says israel cannot be silent. -- cannot be a settlement. [indiscernible] rabin never thought this would end in a full fledged palestinian state. >> that was former israeli foreign minister speaking on "democracy now!" in 2006. rabin was assassinated by israeli extremists. the reasoning play this clip is because there is a concern amongst many people that even within the confines of mainstream israeli politics,

there is not the will to meet the minimal demint of the palestinians. in your film, there is great reference for ravine and i understand that, of that here you have to form former minister of israel saying even redeem who is known as this man of peace, even he himself was not prepared to allow for palestinian state to the peace process. >> i cannot speak in the name of ben ami or rabin, but what i know is the settlements are the biggest obstacle to peace. is there something that will prevent peace is the settlement and the settlers. they're the biggest obstacles to the peace. i think this is the most largest and most influential and most powerful group is real politics, basically dictating the policies in the last year's -- israel politics, basically dictating the policies of the last years. when they see everywhere -- the

settlements built like mushrooms after rain. i am much more bleaker than the heads of the shin bet. i think we've reached the point of no return. i don't see a leader in israel, definitely not the current one, that can carry the weight of what needs to be done in order to reach peace, basically to dismantle its settlements. and it is tragic. >> what will make the difference if there is no one in israeli mainstream can do is question of what a change in u.s. policy to it? what i think so. i hope in barack obama's last four years, if he does not force it, if he does not come to both sides by the way the palestinian leadership is as weak but as the israelis [indiscernible]

there was an article that the last year was the cleanest year in terms of terrorist attacks in israel. no israeli died from an attack coming from the west bank. unless barack obama would come up with an iron fist in one hand and a carrot and the other and say, this is the piece, take it or leave it. if you a ticket, you get this care. if you don't, you get this aaron fist. nothing will happen on the ground. you will deteriorate and violence will prevail. >> have you tried to show this on to president obama? >> i wish he would see it. i don't know how i can try to do that. maybe you can help me. i would be more than happy. it shows a description of the conflict between the palestinians and the israelis from the people who are most responsible, from the security chiefs, something that has not

been done up until now. >> dror moreh, you have all six surviving former heads of shin bet. >> yes. all of them. >> one you interviewed in the office when he was head of sinn that. >> at their headquarters. >> what most surprised you in these interviews? >> i was shocked from what they told me each time. but what i felt mostly the was surprising was howsoever they are, how pragmatic they are, and how they see the effect of the leadership is not able to sustain the conflict or create a way out of that. this is something that felt very strongly that they have to come against it. the fact they served 45 years more than that in the service of the security of israel and feel today their work was in vain in a way because it did not lead israel toward a better political

solution. >> what quopte surprise to most? >> there were many. one said, when he was a young boy he thought there was a house in berlin -- there's a house in jerusalem and there was a smart man in the house. when he group he came to the house, what the corridor and went beyond the door and saw there is no one who is thinking for us. this is something as a person who lives in a state like that, you think the prime minister knows everything and make the right decisions. after that movie, a much more desperate because i heard what they hear about the leaders predict what the former shin bet head said he realized there is no one there, talking about netanyahu. >> there is a fascinating thing that is going on right now, which is of the five oscar-

nominated films, two are made by israelis. joining "the gatekeepers" at this year's academy awards is another film also critical of the israeli occupation called, "five broken cameras closed with a tells the story of a farmer who got a video camera to reporrecord his son's growing u. he got much more. the film shows the nonviolent tactics used by residents of bil'in as they join with international and israeli activists to protest the wall's construction and confront israeli soldiers. here the co-director of "five broken cameras" is arrested at night by israeli forces who declare his home to be a closed military zone.

>> and excerpt of "five broken cameras," and of the five oscar- nominated films, both made by israeli filmmakers. this film named for the fact that emad burnat, started by filming his children's childhood, all five cameras were broken by the occupation. this is fascinating, dror moreh, that both of you coming with different perspectives, but ultimately critical of the occupation of -- going to be in the oscars. what has been the reaction to yours -- and both films? >> to have produced to documentary's in such a small

area for the oscars, i think shows the conflict is alive. it is a big interest all around the world. there it are amazing israeli filmmakers powertrain that, but the people do not do that as much as i think they should in the israeli/palestinian conflict. we are a nation living in denial. i think it shows -- this film is amazing. it shows the israeli documentary scene is really, really vibrant. it thinks about the problem that the israelis are dealing with and the best way to change that is by creating documentary's, creating those films that are accessible to the public. my film opened three weeks ago in israel. israel says not have a lot of audience for documentaries. we opened in two srt houses.

after that, we moved to seven cinemas and then 15. even the big multiplexes have acquired the rights to show the film. it is sold out. a lot of israelis have come to see it. i am very happy. this is the way to show the israeli people how the mayor affect of their life looks like in the reality, not what they're being told in government television. >> thank you, dror moreh, for joining us, director of the oscar dominated documentary, "the gatekeepers." when we come back, we go to seattle where a major protest is going on among teachers against standardized tests. stay with us. ♪ [music break]

>> jimi hendrix attended garfield high school in seattle. this is "democracy now!," democracynow.org, the war and

peace report. i'm amy goodman with aaron maté. >> teachers at the seattle area high-school a winning support locally and nationwide for their boycott of a standardized test used in teacher evaluations. earlier this month teachers at garfield high school voted to stop in ministering map tests, calling them wasteful and unfairly used to grade their performance. teachers at several other seattle schools have pledged support for the boycott, and but the national education association and the american federation of teachers have also given their endorsement. >> last week seattle school officials sent a letter asking principals to inform all their teachers that they could face a 10-day, unpaid suspension for refusing to administer the test. however a rally held that same afternoon at seattle public schools headquarters, teachers said they will not back down. this is one of the teachers from garfield high. >> i don't want to be away from my students for that length of time. i don't want to see that kind of money, but i am willing to do it.

it is the right thing to do. it is educational for my students this seamy stand up for things that are right. >> for more - 7, washington where we're joined by jesse hagopian a high school history teacher, a union rep at garfield high school who has refused to give the test. , are also joined by wayne au former high school teacher, editor of rethinking schools, went to garfield and is now assistant professor at the university of washington. he is author of "unequal by design." he is co-editor of "pencils down." jesse hagopian and professor wayne au, we welcome you both to "democracy now!" jesse hagopian if you could start off by explaining what is happening. this protest of teachers is unanimous, which is unprecedented. >> thank you so much for having me on the show today.

it is really an incredible moment at garfield high school. a car filled high school has a proud tradition of teaching the -- garfield high school has a proud tradition of teaching the arts. jimi hendrix and quincy jones went to garfield. we have a long tradition of teaching our kids to think creatively. quincy jones ended up producing the conlin "thriller," so i am so glad he did not have to be subjected to this map test and have his confidence killed an opera is one of the greatest albums of all time. i think it is that tradition of creativity and teaching kids to think critically that has led our school take his bold stance for the teachers voted unanimously with only three abstentions refused to give this district-required test because we feel this is a civil rights issue. this is a test that was brought

to seattle and to complete scandal. -- under complete scandal. the board of the company that produced the test and did not disclose that when the seattle public schools purchased the map tests for over $4 million. it is not me who has a problem with that, it is the state auditor of washington state that came and found that was "an ethics violation" and "conflict of interest." that is the best part of the map test. this test is a test that is not aligned to our curriculum. our kids in ninth grade algebra are getting geometry questions that not being taught to them in that grade. what that means is it is setting them up for failure. we did not get into this job as teachers to set our kids up for failure. what is worse, this evaluation

is tied to our in violation. the map test is part of grading teachers. we have kids taking a test that is not tied to what we're teaching the classroom and they can tie that to our evaluation, it is terribly unfair. finally, i think one of the main reasons why this was a unanimous vote of teachers was really an equity issue. one, your special education students who do not have their individual education plans respected so there are not proper accommodations for our special education students on this test. me, as a history teacher, when i assign research projects, we often find a computer labs are booked for weeks because the map test is administered on a computer. our children are not allowed to use the library and the computer labs for research for way too long because of this map test that is administered three times

a year. the students that have computers at home can still continue the research, but those primarily low in, and students of color who don't have as much internet connectivity at home, they lose out. this was a civil rights issue. we have learned from the past that when you're dealing with a civil rights issue, a boycott can be a very powerful tool. that is what we have done at garfield high school, boycotted the map test 3 >> a superintendent told the news that he received emails from teachers who support the map test is the value in it as it helps identify areas of weaknesses and strengths among students. he insists canceling the test is not in the interest of students. >> i don't think it's fair to students. what we're forgetting about is this is about students. not everyone has or shares the same sentiment that some of these teachers do, meaning the teachers from garfield and some of these other schools. >> let's bring a professor wayne

au. if he could respond to the superintendent? >> to me it is ironic. i respect the superintendent. i know he came into the public schools recently and sort of inherited the map test from the former superintendent. i sort of feel for his position of being sort of forced into having to deal with something he did not bring in. i want to say that up front. but it is ironic he saying this is about students' when several of the j of theesse just raised, like access to resources, testing being a civil rights issue, are also about students. it just drives me as odd he would frame it that way when a lot of concerns the teachers are raising clearly are about students, student learning. they want their instructional time back. they want to have an assessment

that will be useful for them. particularly at the high-school level we're seeing the map test is not useful for their instruction. it is not clear it is a valid and reliable measure for high school level teaching. there has been recent studies that have come out that said, for instance, at the fourth and fifth grade level even bad map is not accurately -- is not showing any improvement for reading instruction at the fourth and fifth grade level. i think the test boycott is about students' and doing what is best for students, and taking an ethical stance that shows that teachers are professionals and caring and what to do what is best for their students. >> i want to turn to the school principal, author and tv host the perry.

he's the founder of capt. preparatory-school. he said teachers who object to standardized tests are trying to avoid accountability. >> airtran a score of the responsibility of accountability. this examination probably has some flaws, as must examinations to. if we look at some of the real data, we find american students are at the bottom third in virtually every international comparison. why? all we do is rely on the opinion of one teacher as opposed to standardized testing. >> professor, your response? >> it makes me laugh. the international comparison, he does not actually understand or pri trying that correctly. in recent study shows if you compare international test scores and account for poverty, you can actually find u.s. students compare quite well to the highest performing countries

around the world. so making that his -- his perspective does not read that as test data correctly. >> if i could add one thing -- >> let me just ask you, your threatened with 10 date paid suspension. what are your any other teachers plans at garfield right now? the whole nation is watching this protest. >> the teachers at garfield high school are not worried at all about the 10-day suspension. they told me there are willing to take the 10-day suspension without pay because this is a civil rights issue. they will just go in the classroom and volunteer their time if need be. this has touched something around the nation. at garfield high school we received a pizza from a school in florida during lunch, flowers from a school from new jersey. i received thousands of emails from people all over the country. one was from a teacher on a

native american reservation who said, iambs posted a 14 standardized tests a year. education is becoming far more about testing and actually learning. we face big problems in the world today. we face climate change threatening to manatee, in less wars, and we're facing economic stagnation. these types of problems cannot be solved it by bubbling in a, b, c, 4 d. we need to teach our kids critical thinking skills, leadership skills.s ge that is the direction car fell high-school teachers are pointing. some teachers may want to replace the map test with a better one, that many of us think we need far more accurate forms of assessment. we're not against accountability. we want to show steady growth, but we cannot do it with a flawed test. we want to move toward things like portfolios. >> we have to leave it there.

thank you for being with us, professor wayne au and jesse hagopian. democracy now! is looking for feedback from people who appreciate the closed captioning. e-mail your comments to outreach@democracynow.org or mail them to democracy now! p.o. box 693 new york, new york 10013. [captioning made possible by democracy now!]